St. Peter Claver

Peter was born on a farm near Barcelona. He attended the University of
Barcelona and graduated at the age of 20. Upon graduation, he entered a Jesuit
novitiate and was sent to Montesione College on the island of Majorca where he
met a humble gatekeeper named Alphonsus. This Jesuit gatekeeper became Peter's
personal counselor uninterrupted for some three years. It was unknown to the
world, and even to the College Jesuits, that Alphonsus was a saint among them,
Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez; had it been known, it was highly unlikely that Peter
would have the personal attention. At the counsel of Alphonsus, Peter requested
to join the missions of the New World and was sent to Cartagena, Colombia, an
area that was under Spanish control. The Spanish at this time and at this place
had but one thing on their minds - mining for riches. They were very cruel to
the Indians, making slaves of them and forcing them to work in the mines. In an
effort to speed up productivity, the Spanish started importing slaves from
Africa. Considering that the African slaves were a very low-value commodity to
the Spanish, they were treated accordingly. Many died on the journey due to the
horrific conditions in the transport within the ships' holds. Upon seeing how
the African slaves were treated, Peter was moved to declare himself "the slave
of the Negroes forever", dedicating himself to their suffering. Peter was
ordained in 1615, and immediately taking advantage of his increased influence,
boldly moved to help the slaves. The Spanish reluctantly allowed Peter to care
for the Negro slaves in the ships' holds upon their arrival, in the hospitals,
and even in the mines. Peter reportedly baptized millions. While personally
servicing the infected during the plague of 1650, Peter contracted the disease.
After four years of immense suffering, Saint Peter Claver died in 1654.